Mnangagwa Declares July 30, “Not December 31” A Public Holiday

President Emmerson Mnangagwa who once said there will be elections on the 31st December 2018, has declared the 30th of July a public holiday.

The whole nation goes to the polls in two weeks’ time. His administration said this is to enable the electorate to vote without hassles from work-related commitments.

Moreover the Electoral Act prescribes that the election day be declared a public holiday.

The declaration comes after the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education announced that schools will close early to pave way for the harmonised polls.

The ministry brought forward the closing of schools to July 26 as most schools will be used as polling stations, while some teachers will be attached to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) as polling officers.

Tertiary institutions will close tomorrow to avoid clashing with the elections programme.
ZEC Commissioner Dr Qhubani Moyo said: “The spirit behind declaring the Election Day a public holiday is to enable the people to prepare for polling considering that this election is polling station-based. This means that some people might need to travel to their polling stations.

“It is also a way of encouraging all the people to cast their votes. If some of the people are committed on other things such as work they may fail to participate in this important exercise.”

Dr Moyo encouraged those who will be travelling to their voting bases to do so latest on the weekend before Monday, July 30 to avoid inconveniences. He said election preparations were at an advanced stage.

“In terms of preparations and logistics, the commission is very happy that all the systems are in place to ensure that everything goes well on Election Day,” said Dr Moyo.

“The systems include identification of polling stations, completion of the voters’ roll printing and other material that goes with the election.”

Dr Moyo lauded the country’s citizens for conducting themselves in a peaceful manner, saying the prevailing environment should be celebrated.